Orlando Magic squander lead late, fall 99-94 in Memphis

Orlando Magic's Jameer Nelson, left, is fouled during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Memphis, Tenn.

Orlando Magic's Jameer Nelson, left, is fouled during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Memphis, Tenn. (MARK WEBER, ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Brian SchmitzORLANDO SENTINEL

Stan Van Gundy called the play in the huddle and before it floundered, the coach had slammed his fist into the scorer's table. The possession — and the game — finished with a thud for the Orlando Magic.

The Magic's 99-94 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday night ended with equal parts confusion and frustration with offensive and defensive breakdowns.

Trailing 96-94 with 58.9 seconds left, Van Gundy called timeout to draw up a play off a pick-and-roll.

"We screwed up the play," he said. "We still got to the high pick-and-roll, but we had other options before it and didn't execute it. We just didn't run the play."

Vince Carter was forced during the chaotic scramble to hoist up a 3-point attempt that misfired. Memphis center Marc Gasol then drove the lane, was fouled and hit the free throw, giving the revitalized, toothy Grizzlies (24-19) their 11th consecutive home win at FedEx Forum.

Grizzlies power forward Zach Randolph was a headache all night for the Magic (29-16). Van Gundy tried Dwight Howard on him after Randolph was using his 6 foot-9, 260-pound frame against Rashard Lewis.

Van Gundy even brought in backup center Marcin Gortat with Howard. But with the Magic leading 94-92, Randolph still tipped in a missed shot to tie it at 94.

Then point guard Jameer Nelson was tied up by forward Rudy Gay, and Gay won the jump ball to set up the Grizzlies' go-ahead possession. Getting tied up by Gay was typical on a mistake-prone night in which the Magic committed 20 turnovers --- their third 20-plus turnover game in the last four games.

On Memphis' next possession, Howard came out to defend Randolph. But Randolph, who finished with 23 points and had 19 rebounds, delivered a nice bounce pass to Gay, who beat Lewis and scored on a back-cut to give the Griz a 96-94 lead with 59 seconds left.

"We actually got beat at the 3-spot. Rashard had trouble showing on pick-and-rolls and then got beat on a back-cut," Van Gundy said. "We made some adjustments that didn't work for us.

"[Randolph] was only 9-for-21 but his rebounding was a huge factor. I think that was the problem. We tried to match up late when it was close."

Magic shooting guard J.J. Redick hit the floor hard midway in the fourth period after taking a charge by O.J. Mayo, bumping the back of his head when he landed. He received five stitches and returned.

Carrying over his aggressiveness from Saturday night's 21-point effort against Charlotte, Carter scored his first four field goals all on drives to the basket. But Carter doubled over in pain in the third after running into a screen.

The Magic opened a 16-point lead in the first half on J.J. Redick's 3-pointer with 7:18 left in the first half, outscoring the Grizzlies 21-6. But then the Grizzlies reminded the Magic they are no longer a footwipe, even if they are the league's youngest team. They went on a 20-4 run just before intermission as Gasol — Pau's brother — scored eight points.

The Magic gave up their entire lead and then some. Randolph's 3-point heave from 63 feet before the buzzer gave the Grizzlies a 52-50 lead at halftime.

"We didn't do much right in the second half," Van Gundy said. "That was the only point of the game I was really upset about."